Epilogue
Sam hated to admit that the bridesmaid dress was quite lovely.
The deep burgundy silk hugged her considerable curves but covered the assets nicely.
Nick’s eyes had bugged out of his head when he saw her in it for the first time, and his reaction had given Sam the confidence she needed to rock the dress as part of Jeannie’s wedding party.
Flesh-colored bandages covered the worst of the scabs and bruises on Sam’s elbows, and a large dose of ibuprofen had taken the edge off the ache in her hip.
And Jeannie… Well, she was simply magnificent. Somehow her dress managed to be sexy and demure at the same time, and the train extended halfway down the aisle behind her as she stood at the altar of the church where she grew up and exchanged vows with Michael.
They had thought of every detail, including a note in the program that asked their guests to refrain from taking or posting photos of their beloved friends Vice President Cappuano and Lieutenant Holland.
Sam loved Jeannie for referring to her as Lieutenant Holland for the occasion.
Not that she wasn’t always happy to be Mrs. Cappuano, but today she was Jeannie’s lieutenant, her friend and her bridesmaid.
The Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, venue they had chosen sat right on the sand, with an open veranda that gave guests a front-row view of an extraordinary sunset. They’d gotten a perfect day, and Sam was thrilled for the bride and groom, who’d traveled a difficult journey to get to this moment.
As a member of the wedding party, Sam danced with Michael’s brother, engaged in small talk with Jeannie’s sisters and made goo-goo eyes at her husband, who was seated with Scotty at a table with Jeannie’s parents.
They’d referred to Nick and Scotty as their special guests.
Every time she looked over from the head table, she caught Nick watching her.
He grinned like a fool when she caught him staring at her.
Sam couldn’t wait to be done with the formalities so she could dance with her sexy husband. Jeannie had asked her to say a few words during the toasts, and this was the part of the day she’d been the most nervous about.
The best man, another of Michael’s brothers, gave a touching toast that had people dabbing at their eyes.
Jeannie’s sister Charmaine was hilarious, telling stories about her sister from their childhood that had the entire room in hysterics.
And then the microphone was handed to Sam, who rose tentatively to address the guests.
This should be a piece of cake after speaking to two thousand people at an infertility conference earlier in the year, but her belly fluttered with nerves, nonetheless.
“How lucky am I to follow the tearjerker and the comedienne?” Sam said to laughter.
She turned to face Jeannie and Michael, who were seated at the center of the big head table.
“I know I speak for everyone at this table when I tell you, Jeannie and Michael, how honored I am to have been chosen to be part of your wedding party. I might’ve complained a little about the dress fittings… ”
Jeannie rolled her eyes dramatically, making everyone laugh.
“Okay, I complained a lot, but it was worth it. Everything is beautiful today, especially the two of you and the love you share. I’ve seen that love firsthand.
I’ve seen it at the best of times and the worst, and I’ve seen it grow into something true and lasting.
I have no doubt at all that one day we’ll celebrate your golden anniversary, surrounded by the family you’ll create together.
I look forward to taking this journey with you as your colleague but more importantly as your friend.
” Sam held up her glass of champagne. “To Jeannie and Michael.”
After toasting her husband and sharing a kiss, Jeannie stood to hug Sam. “Thank you. Thank you so much for everything, especially putting up with all the fittings.”
Sam laughed. “Despite how it might’ve appeared at times, I’m truly honored to be one of your bridesmaids.”
“I’m glad to hear that. A few times I was afraid you were going to take your rusty steak knife to me.”
“Nah, I’m saving that for Freddie. I’m sure being his best-man woman will be no walk in the park.”
Jeannie laughed. “Please remember to invite me to the bachelor party.”
“Oh, I will. It’s going to be epic.”
A short time later, the wedding party was sprung to enjoy the rest of the evening with their dates.
Sam made a beeline for Nick and dragged him onto the dance floor, where their friends surrounded them, including Freddie and Elin, Gonzo and Christina, and Lindsey and Terry.
Will Tyrone danced with a young blonde woman he’d brought that Sam hadn’t met before today.
Even Carlucci and Dominguez were there with dates.
Captain Malone had arranged coverage so the entire squad could have the day off to celebrate with Jeannie and Michael.
After the year they’d had, it was nice to have a reason to celebrate together.
With Nick’s arms wrapped around her, Sam expelled a deep breath and finally relaxed.
“Sexiest bridesmaid in the history of weddings,” he whispered in her ear.
Sam smiled as a shiver ran down her spine. “Is that so?”
“Oh yeah. This dress is the bomb.”
“Don’t say bomb. You’re the vice president. You could start an international incident.”
“I’ll take my chances, because it’s true. Do you get to keep it?”
Laughing, Sam said, “Of course I do.”
“Mmm, that’s great news.”
“Behave yourself. People are watching.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck who’s watching or if they know how much I love my gorgeous wife.”
Who was she to argue with that?
By the time they left the wedding it was after ten o’clock.
The Secret Service loaded them into one of the SUVs for the ride back to Washington.
Sam leaned against Nick while Scotty sat across from them, looking adorable in his “work clothes,” as he called the blue blazer, tie, khakis and dress shirt he wore to Nick’s political events.
As the beach faded into the background, she delighted in knowing they’d be back in August for a full week of badly needed vacation. Brant had worked with Terry to clear Nick’s schedule and organize security at a private home right on the beach where they would stay.
She decided this would be the perfect time to break the news to her boys. “So guess what, gentlemen?”
“Is it wrong that I’m a little afraid of what she’s going to say?” Scotty asked Nick.
He cracked up. “Not wrong at all. You never know with her.”
“Forget it, then. I won’t tell you about my surprise.”
“Make her tell us,” Scotty said. “But don’t do anything gross that can’t be unseen by your impressionable young son who is already traumatized for life after living with you two.”
“He’s such a brat,” Sam said. “Whose idea was it to adopt him, anyway?”
“You love me,” Scotty said with a cocky grin that made her smile.
“About this so-called surprise,” Nick said, rolling his hand to tell her to get on with it.
“How would you boys like to spend a whole week out here at Dewey next month?”
“Yes, please,” Scotty said. “Can I bring a friend?”
“I’m sure that could be arranged.”
“How’d you pull that off, babe?” Nick asked, his eyes warm with pleasure—and maybe a bit of a champagne buzz.
“I’ve figured out how to work the system.
I used my second-lady magic wand, talked to Brant about security and Terry about clearing your schedule, put in a request for vacation at work and voilà.
We have a week off, a house rented that the Secret Service approved and a vacation to look forward to with Angela, Tracy and their families.
I also invited my mom, dad and Celia to come, too. ”
“That’ll be awesome,” Scotty said. “I can’t wait!”
“Me either,” Nick added, slipping an arm around her to bring her in closer. “Thank you for arranging it.”
“I like to think I can still surprise you every now and then.”
“You do. Every day.”
“Before this gets gross, let’s talk about the wedding that was much more fun than expected,” Scotty said. “They seem happy.”
“Yes, they do,” Nick said. “Are they going on a honeymoon?”
“They’re going to Italy for two weeks.”
“We need to do that,” Nick said. “I’m a Cappuano, and I’ve never been to Italy.”
“Only if I get to go, too,” Scotty said.
“Of course you get to go,” Nick replied. “Maybe over Christmas vacation.”
Sam let out a lusty yawn that made the guys smile.
“She’ll be asleep before the Bay Bridge,” Scotty predicted.
“I will not.”
A little later Nick shook her awake. “Hey, babe. We’re here.” His eyes glittered with excitement that she shared. They’d been looking forward to this moment for days.
“What’re we doing here?” Scotty asked as he eyed the Feds ballpark outside the tinted windows.
“Let’s go find out.” Nick grabbed the bag he’d covertly packed before they left the house that morning and followed Sam and Scotty out of the SUV.
The agents escorted them through a door that a casual observer might’ve overlooked into a corridor that led directly onto the field.
“Whoa,” Scotty said, awed as the stadium lights came on one at a time until the field was as bright as it would be during the day. “What’s going on?”
“Look,” Nick said, nodding to the dugout where the entire DC Federals team waited to greet his son.
Scotty’s face went blank with shock. “Shut up. Are you kidding me right now?”
“Would I kid you?” Nick asked. “Why don’t you go on over to say hello?” He handed Scotty the backpack. “And if you want to get changed to play some baseball with the team, they said you can use their locker room.”
“This is a joke, right? I’m going to wake up in the back of the SUV, and I will have dreamed this.”
Nick laughed at his adorable expression. “It’s no joke. The guys felt bad that you weren’t able to finish your camp and meet the players with the other kids, so they wanted to make it up to you.”